Speech #430097514

I desire to call attention to the last qnoptioo raised. the exclusion of the word "white" in the naturalization laws. I do it because this subject was referred during this session of Congress to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. of which I have the honor to be a member. and some little consideration has been given to it. and I was authorized by that committee to report adversely upon a bill which was submitted to the committee restoring the word "white" to the naturalization laws as now proposed by the Committee on the Revision of the Laws. I understand that the Committee on the Revision of the Laws do not make this recommendation upon the merits of the question at all. but simply upon the general principle upon which they are proceeding. to restore this revision as nearly as possible to the condition in which the law was at the time the revision was passed. It occurs to me that there is no need of making this proposed correction of the revision of the laws. unless the House is thoroughly satisfied that the law as it now stands. with the word "white" stricken out. is not a wise statute. I understand that members from California and the Pacific coast make objection to the naturalization of Asiatics. more especially the Chinese. That question has been before Congress at different times. As has been suggested by my colleague it was squarely presented in the Senate by the proposition of Mr. Sumner to strike out the word "white" from the naturalization laws. I cannot see why there should be this invidious distinction made against any class of foreigners. We invite immigrants to this country from all countries. we open our ports wide to every immigrant who comes to our shores. And if this word "white" shall be restored we will keep upon our statute a provision by which only a portion of those who come to this country can be naturdized. and certainly. as far as we know not by any means necessarily the least intelligent portion of the emigrants who come here. I merely call the attention of the House to this matter for the purpose of stggesting that if they are ready to say that this word "white" should be retained in the naturalization laws on principle. or on the merits of the question. of course it is proper for them to say so. But I think it is agood time now. inasmuch as we have it out of the law. to let it remain out. And as my colleague has yielded to me for the purpose of allowing an amendment to be moved tothis bill. I will move to amend it by striking out the paragraph relating to this subject. which will heav6 the naturalization law to stand as the revisers left it. with the word "white" not in it at all. The paragraph I move to strike out is as follows: Section 2169 is amended by inserting In the first line. after the word "alien." the words "being free white persons. and ti aliens."